We Never Die
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die
John 11:25-26
What does Jesus mean when he says “everyone who believes in me will never die”? The unbelieving world believes in physical death. Some believe in eternal life but no eternal death. And some believe in eternal life and eternal death. What do we believe as Christians?
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54) From this verse we understand that physical death is referred to as victory. Our physical bodies will be changed to become imperishable and immortal. This means we live for eternity in heaven with the Father and the Son.
But what happens immediately after we take our last breath? Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. (Matthew 10:28) Jesus is referring to our soul as the spiritual part of us; our mind, thoughts, and personality. He tells us to not fear death of our physical bodies but we should be concerned with our eternal souls. After our last breath, the spiritual part of us is still alive and conscious. If we have conscious thoughts in our spiritual existence, or our soul, then where will we go? And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Immediately after our last breath, scripture tells us that we will be taken into Paradise and we will be with Christ. Being with Christ is living in his all powerful love and comfort, making paradise infinitely better than our earthly life.
And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades! (Luke 10:15) Paradise is where people of God reside after death and Hades is where unbelievers reside. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. (Revelation 20:14) When Christ returns those in Hades will experience the second death.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) Those who died in Christ will leave paradise, receiving their eternal imperishable bodies, and ascend into heaven with Christ.
According to scripture our spiritual soul lives forever and will separate from our body at death. After our last breath we will remain conscious with thought and personality. There are people who interpret scripture in different ways, but what is described in this paper appears to fit scripture the best. I have found there are many Christians who have this understanding. One thing is for certain, we are spiritual people and we will live forever in a new imperishable body in heaven with the Father and Son for eternity.
Today, realize that you have started your eternal life and this life is like a vapor. Live for Christ and store up your treasures for eternity. Tomorrow is never promised so be ready to go home any time.
Let’s pray: Lord, fill my mind and heart with eternity to live this life for my eternal life. Guide me in the Spirit through this temporary life to make choices with eternity in mind. Thank you for saving my soul for eternity through Christ, who took my sins to the cross. Lord, I can’t imagine what this life would be like without eternal life. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.